Eucha, Oklahoma

Coordinates: 36°23′31″N 94°52′59″W / 36.392027°N 94.883010°W

Old Eucha and New Eucha are nearby census-designated places in Delaware County.

Eucha, pronounced "oochee", is a small rural community located in Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States, north of Lake Eucha. The Eucha Post Office was established November 20, 1900, in District 5 of the old Indian Territory. The community was named for Oochelata, a principal chief of the Cherokees. Eucha, well known for its Indian culture, often has Indian taco sales.

The center of Eucha is located at the western edge of the New Eucha census-designated place, a statistical area that extends north as far as Oklahoma State Highway 20, east to U.S. Route 59, and south to Rattlesnake Creek.

Eucha Lake, named for the town, is noted for its lake which has the Delaware County Gigging Tournament every year in April. Gigging is an old-fashioned method of fishing that utilizes gigs, a long pole that has been tipped with a multi-pronged spear. Fishermen use these trident-like gigs to spear fish while on flat boats. The use of gigging spears reflects the area's Cherokee heritage and keeps the fishing tradition alive. The average household income for a Eucha family is $30,268.

Sources

Shirk, George H.; Oklahoma Place Names; University of Oklahoma Press; Norman, Oklahoma; 1987: ISBN 0-8061-2028-2 .